A display device

ABSTRACT

A display device is disclosed. The display device comprises a backpiece, hingeably mounted by one or more hinge elements to a frontispiece, enabling the frontispiece to be pivoted along a first edge between a closed, display position and an open position allowing insertion/removal of a display article. The frontispiece has a border section and a transparent viewing section, the viewing section and border section secured together to form the frontispiece. Additionally, a catch releasably securing the frontispiece to the backpiece is included, the catch comprising an actuator movable within the backpiece and in a direction through the body of the backpiece, to respectively engage and release the frontispiece, whereby movement of the actuator causes a retaining element to raise and lower to respectively engage and disengage from a retaining element barrier mounted on the frontispiece, said engagement preventing pivoting of the frontispiece from the closed position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a display device intended to be used todisplay flat articles such as letters, certificates, magazines and thelike, and particularly to allow such articles to be displayed, forexample, on a wall, or free-standing.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is often desirable to display, for example, on a wall surface,articles which are generally of a flat nature, such as magazines,letters etc. The reasons for this can vary. For example, certificatesrecording an achievement or event can be displayed, magazinescommemorating particular occurrences or of a particularly decorativenature, letters having a personal or celebrity connection or pleasingartwork can be hung up in a room at home or at an office.

Frames and display units are known in the art which can hold an articleflat and have a clear front screen which allows the article, or partthereof to be seen. The screen also serves to protect the article withinfrom damage. Frames and display units are also known which allow anarticle to be inserted or removed, either to allow the article to beviewed close up, or to be replaced. However, units known in the artcannot easily be adapted, if at all, between portrait and landscapeorientation, particularly if it is desired to retain a top-openingorientation. Additionally, frames of different sizes are often requiredfor the United States and other markets due to the different sizes ofpaper used.

Prior art units also include means of fastening parts of the frametogether, such as by means of rivets. These require that, for aestheticpurposes, the frame can be sprayed with a covering such as a paint. Thisincreases both the cost of production and also the risk of the coveringchipping or wearing with time. Additionally, components of prior artframes need to be clipped together which elements required therefor areoften prone to breakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a displaydevice, the display device comprising a backpiece, hingeably mounted byone or more hinge elements to a frontispiece, enabling the frontispieceto be pivoted along a first edge between a closed, display position andan open position allowing insertion/removal of a display article, thefrontispiece having a border section and a transparent viewing section,the viewing section and border section secured together to form thefrontispiece, a catch releasably securing the frontispiece to thebackpiece, the catch comprising an actuator movable within the backpieceand in a direction through the body of the backpiece, to respectivelyengage and release the frontispiece, movement of the actuator causing aretaining element to raise and lower to respectively engage anddisengage from a retaining element barrier mounted on the frontispiece,the engagement preventing pivoting of the frontispiece from the closedposition.

Preferably, the retaining element barrier has an arch piece defining achannel through which the retaining element can pass when engaging anddisengaging.

Optionally, the retaining element has a wedge shape, and is pivotablymounted along the wedge end, operation of the actuator moving the wedgeabout the pivot access engagement of the base of the wedge in the raisedposition with the arch piece preventing relative movement of thefrontispiece and backpiece.

The frontispiece preferably includes one or more first support elements,further preferably the or each first support element having an I′ shapedcross-section, the or each hinge element being slidably, preferablyremovably slidably engageable with the or each first support element tosecure the or each hinge element in position. Conveniently, afrontispiece includes further support elements having a differentorientation with respect to the frontispiece to enable hinges to beattached, and whose different orientation allows the backpiece to pivotalong a different edge between a closed and an open position. Furtherpreferably, the or each hinge element has internally mutually slopingsurfaces, extending along the or each hinge element, to guide the oreach hinge element into the correct position and to retain the or eachhinge element in push-fit engagement with a support element.

Optionally, the viewing section has walls to define a rectangular areato retain an article. Further optionally, the viewing section includeschannel elements on opposing walls, opposing channel elementscooperating to retain an elongate spacer, inclusion of a spacer reducingthe area in which the article is retained. Yet further optionally, aspacer includes ridges along one side to reduce the mass of a spacerrequired to produce a given reduction in area, the ridges holding thespacer in spaced relationship to a wall and preventing bowing of aspacer.

Preferably, a hinge element includes a pivot mount engageable with amounting element on the backpiece, which engagement enables the hingeand the frontispiece to pivot relative to the backpiece. Furtherpreferably, a stop element prevents pivoting beyond a pre-set angle. Yetfurther preferably, a pivot mount has a cylindrical outer surface.

Advantageously, the mounting element comprises a cylindrical surface, ofcomplimentary curvature to that of the pivot mount to provide a smoothpivoting action.

Preferably, the backpiece comprises one or more resilient supportshaving an article-engaging surface, to engage a surface of an articlebeing displayed. The resilience enables articles of differentthicknesses to be displayed without requiring the or each support to bechanged. Further preferably, the article-engaging surface is coveredwith a material or sponge material. Yet further preferably, a resilientsupport comprises an arm, fixed at one end to the backpiece andsupporting on the free end of the arm, in spaced arrangement to thebackpiece, a head, the head engaging an article being displayed.

Optionally, the catch engages the backpiece by a push-fit arrangement toenable the catch to be moved between different positions on thebackpiece, allowing the device to be easily used in differentorientations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which who by way of example only, one embodiment of a displaydevice. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an opened display device to display anitem in portrait orientation;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view with the front frame removed;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the display device of FIG. 1 ;

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b illustrate a hinge mechanism;

FIGS. 5 a, 5 b illustrate fitment of a hinge; and

FIG. 6 shows examples of use of a device for different sizes ofdisplayed article.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The display unit shown herein is suitable for the wall-mounted displayof a range of items which are thin in one of their dimensions: forexample, magazines, letters, etc. In its broadest aspect the displayunit provides a support or backpiece, to which a front cover is mounted,to be moveable between an opened position in which articles can beinserted into or removed from the display unit, and a closed positionwhen the article is retained within the display unit and can be viewedthrough a viewing region of the front cover. In the followingdescription the embodiment described is of the type suitable forattachment to a wall or the like, but this should not be construed aslimiting the invention to devices of that type and which is alsoconcerned with free-standing devices. The display unit is optionallymounted to a wall, or can be free-standing, such that the unit opensabout a hinge mounting and along a line joining between the support andthe front cover, along their in-use lower edges. This reduces the riskof displayed items falling from the unit and becoming damaged. In someembodiments, the display unit allows a new item to be simply slotted in,in front of an already displayed item. Additionally, the orientation ofthe opening can be changed, allowing the unit to be used for portrait orlandscape oriented articles. The display unit can be adapted to holditems of different sizes, thus allowing frames for different markets tobe made from the same tooling.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3 , these show a display device or unit,generally referenced 10 in accordance with the invention. Componentparts are generally able to be clipped together where required, unlessotherwise stated. To achieve this, small detents engaging undercuts canbe utilised. This simplifies production, thereby reducing costs.Additionally, the components are self-coloured and do not require anadditional surface coating, which again reduces costs. The device 10 hasa backpiece 11 which can be secured in use to a wall or other verticalsurface. Attached along one edge 12 thereto is a border or frame13/viewing screen 14 assembly which assembly is referred to as afrontispiece 15. The frame 13 acts to firstly strengthen the viewingscreen 14 and secondly to delineate an area to highlight the importantparts of the document on display. Typical dimensions for the device arearound 30 cm for the longer edge, although the dimensions can be chosento suit the purpose.

In more detail, the backpiece 11 has (see FIG. 6 ) slots 16 a, b toreceive a fixing means to secure the device 10 to a surface. In theembodiments shown in FIG. 6 , the backpieces are provided with two slots16 a, b to allow the device 10 to be utilised with either the shorter orthe longer edges horizontal, or indeed to secure the device at anoblique angle if so desired. In an alternative embodiment, notillustrated, sticky pads secured to the rear of the backpiece can beused to secure the device to a surface. The backpiece can also havesecured thereto, cushioning pads, to cushion the device against a wall.A cushioning pad and also a sticky pad can include a throughapertureenabling a screw to pass therethrough, the throughaperture preferablybeing centrally located in the pad. The screw can, for example, be usedto secure the device 10 more firmly to a wall, to prevent theft and/orresist movement of the device 10 should the device 10 accidentally beknocked. Extending from the backpiece 11 are four flexible fingers 17(see FIG. 4 b ). Each of the fingers 17 comprises a stem 18, fixed atone end to the backpiece 11 and supporting at the other end a head 19.The stem 18 is preferably formed of a resilient material which biasesthe head 19 of the finger 17 towards the screen 14. The head 19 ispreferably formed of a soft material or a sponge material to minimisedamage which might otherwise occur to a display item coming into contacttherewith. The flexible fingers 17 act in combination with the innersurface of the viewing screen 14 to stably support an item in thecorrect orientation, in that the item is squeezed between the fingers 17and the screen 14 as the device 10 is closed. The flexibility of thefingers 17 enables items of different thicknesses to be easily retainedwithout having to make changes to the device 10. The device 10 can besupplied to a user with the fingers 17 located and retained within thecorrespondingly shaped apertures 17 a, to minimise the risk of damageprior to use.

In order to secure the viewing screen 14 to the frame 13, integral lugs(not illustrated) are provided in the screen 14 which engagecorresponding recesses (also not illustrated) formed in this frame 13.If desired, the lugs can be formed in the frame 13 to engage recessesformed in the screen 14. The lugs allow the frame 13 and screen 14 tooperate as a frontispiece unit.

As the device 10 is intended to be usable with display items ofdifferent sizes, then a spacer 9 can be included within the device. Thespacer 9 is suitable for, for example, converting the device 10 from onethat is able to retain pages of US letter size to one for holding A4size articles and vice versa. In use, the spacer 9 is held in place bychannel elements 20 a, b formed in the screen 14. The spacer 9 has aplurality of ridges 21 along one side which hold the spacer in spacedrelationship to a wall 22 of the screen 14 but minimise the weight ofthe spacer for a given thickness of spacer. Again, a corresponding pairof channels is provided along one of the shorter edges, adjacent a wall23 to allow adjustment of the effective longer length of the device tobe altered, if desired. The positioning of the spacer 9 as shown allowsfor the spacer 9 to remain hidden whilst in use. It is intended thatpurchase of a device will include two spacers, one placeable along ashorter edge and one placeable along a longer edge. Inner wall members24 a, 24 b are provided to otherwise retain the article in position.

The design of the hinges 30 allows the device 10 to be opened and closedsuch that the frontispiece 15 pivots away from the backpiece 11 alongchosen common, although not conjoined, edges. The hinges 30 can beplaced so that the device 10 opens along a shorter edge and if required,because a different item is to be displayed in a different orientation,can be removed and replaced to allow hinging along a different edge.

In the illustrated embodiment the hinge 30, which can be formed of aplastics material, comprises a support-engaging body 31 to engage,in-use, a support 40 located on and integral with, the screen 14. Thebody 31 is connected, by means of an arm 32, to a pivot mount 33, havinga cylindrical outer surface and which comprises a cylindrical aperture34 into which an optional pin (not illustrated), extending from the wallof the backpiece 11 can engage, allowing the hinge 30 to pivotthereabout. Alternatively, or additionally, the pivot mount 33 isretained in position and allowed to roll within a pivot cover 35. Thepivot cover 35 is secured along two edges to the backpiece 11. As viewedalong the free edge 35 a, the pivot cover 35 has a curved profile,approximately matching the curvature of the pivot mount 33, whichfacilitates the pivoting action and prevents the hinge 30 from unwantedmovement away from the backpiece 11. A stop-element, not illustrated,prevents pivoting beyond a pre-set angle, between the backpiece and thefrontispiece.

Referring to FIG. 4 b , the support 40 is ‘L’-shaped in cross-section,and secured to the screen along a short edge of the I′. Correspondingly,the body 31 of the hinge 30 is hollow, and the base 41 has an aperture42 so sized to allow the support 40 to pass therethrough. Additionally,and referring also to FIG. 5 a , the body 31 has ramp 36, slopingupwardly away from the pivot mount 33, and partially extending acrossthe body 31. From FIG. 5 a , it can be seen that the ramp 36 widensfurther away from the pivot mount 33 so that the elongate gap 37 narrowsprogressively. A shelf 38 extends, in narrowing vertical spacedrelationship to the ramp 36, into the body 31.

In order to secure the hinge 30 to the screen 14 therefore, the body 31of the hinge 30 is slid over the support 40, the support 40 entering atthe end of the body 31 closest to the pivot mount 33 and sliding alongthe ramp 36. As the support 40 slides into the body 31, it increasinglyengages the ramp 36 and the shelf 38 to hold the body 31 firmly inposition.

Turning now to the closure mechanism, this comes in two main parts: aclosure member 51 which engages a catch 61. The closure member 51 ispreferably removably fittable to the backpiece 11. The backpiece 11 hasa closure member receiving recess 53, having channels 54 in both sidewalls of the recess 53. The closure member 51 has corresponding fitmentedges 55, having upper and lower surfaces which engage the walls of thechannels 54 to allow the closure member 51 to be fitted in a push-fitarrangement.

The closure member 51 further has a depressible button 56 having a stem57 and cross-piece 58 allowing a user to push the button 56 down to adepressed position, from its standard position, in which depressedposition the cross-piece 58 is flush with the upper edge of thebackpiece 11. The button 56 is linked to a wedge 59 such that depressionof the button 56 causes the wedge 59 to lie with its otherwise slopingsurface 60, parallel to the upper edge of the backpiece 11. As thebutton 56 is biased to be in the standard position, release of pressureon the button 56 causes the button 56 to rise, and the wedge 59 to pivotabout the wedge end 59 a, bringing the sloping surface 60 to its normalsloping orientation.

Actuation of the closure member 51 acts to close the device 10 byengagement of the wedge 59 with a catch 61 on the screen 14. The catch61 has a channel 62 to receive the wedge 59 and fitment edges 55 of theclosure member 51. Partway along the channel 62, an arch 63 forms anaperture 64 through which the wedge 59 and fitment edges 55 pass duringopening and closing, the wedge 59 lying flat due to depression of thebutton 56. Once the wedge 59 has passed through the aperture, pressureis released from the button 56, which returns to the standard position,and the wedge 59 pivots to the sloping position. In this position, thebase 59 b of the wedge 59 holds the frontispiece 15 against thebackpiece 11 as the base is too tall to pass through the channel 62, andinstead engages the arch 63. The article to be displayed is thus held inposition to be viewable through the screen 14.

Additionally, the screen 14 has two further hinge supports, along theshort edges of the screen 14. Further, the screen 14 also has a catchalong one of its longer edges. These allow the device 10 to be switchedover to display items both in landscape and portrait orientation,without the requirement to obtain a further device. Further, the device10 when turned to the required orientation still opens along the in-usebottom edge, with the top of the frontispiece moving away from thebackpiece in a downward arc, thus retaining support for the articlecontained, even when open. A user is therefore provided with flexibilityin displaying articles.

The hinges 30 can be removed from the supports along one edge andsecured along the other edge.

In use therefore, a user selects the orientation of the device required.The frame and the viewing screens are secured together using the lugsand complementary recesses. Hinges are slid onto, in push-fitengagement, the hinge supports on the screen. Any spaces required arecorrectly positioned. A closure member is fitted to a correspondingrecess in the backpiece 11. The backpiece is secured to a wall or othersurface utilising the slot 16 a, b. If, in the alternative, the deviceis to be free-standing, this step can be omitted. The screen and frame(frontispiece) assembly is then slid into position with respect to thebackpiece, such that the pivot mount of the hinge is beneath andpartially surrounded by the pivot cover on the backpiece. The devicethus formed is ready to receive the article to be displayed.

The article is positioned within the wall members 24 a, 24 b. Thefrontispiece is then pivoted about the hinges such that the top edge ofthe frontispiece moves in a generally upward arc towards the top edge ofthe backpiece, until the catch engages the channel. A pivoting actioncauses the article to be held firmly between the screen and the flexiblefingers 17. When closing the device, the slope of the ramp engaging thearch, acts to depress the ramp, and the button allowing the wedge topass through the channel. Once the wedge has passed through the channel,the biasing force on the button and wedge, acts to raise the wedge to asloping position. To open the device, the button is depressed, causingthe sloping surface of the wedge to lie flush with the upper edge of thebackpiece. This frees the frontispiece to pivot forward, away from thebackpiece, allowing the article to be removed.

1. A display device, the display device comprising a backpiece,hingeably mounted by one or more hinge elements to a frontispiece,enabling the frontispiece to be pivoted along a first edge between aclosed, display position and an open position allowing insertion/removalof a display article, the frontispiece having a border section and atransparent viewing section, the viewing section and border sectionsecured together to form the frontispiece, a catch (61) releasablysecuring the frontispiece to the backpiece, the catch comprising anactuator movable within the backpiece and in a direction through thebody of the backpiece, to respectively engage and release thefrontispiece, movement of the actuator causing a retaining element toraise and lower to respectively engage and disengage from a retainingelement barrier mounted on the frontispiece, the engagement preventingpivoting of the frontispiece from the closed position.
 2. The displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the retaining element barrier hasan arch piece defining a channel through which the retaining element canpass when engaging and disengaging.
 3. The display device according toclaim 1, wherein the retaining element has a wedge shape, and ispivotably mounted along the wedge end, operation of the actuator movingthe wedge about the pivot access engagement of the base of the wedge inthe raised position with the arch piece preventing relative movement ofthe frontispiece and backpiece.
 4. The display device according claim 1,wherein the frontispiece includes one or more first support elements. 5.The display device according to claim 4, wherein the or each firstsupport element has an ‘L’ shaped cross-section, a hinge element beingslidably engageable with the or each first support element to secure theor each hinge element in position.
 6. The display device according toclaim 5, wherein a hinge element is removably slidably engageable. 7.The display device according to claim 4, wherein a frontispiece includesfurther support elements having a different orientation with respect tothe frontispiece to enable hinges to be attached and operate in adifferent orientation.
 8. The display device according to claim 4,wherein the or each hinge element has internally mutually slopingsurfaces, extending along the or each hinge element, to guide the oreach hinge element into the correct position and to retain the or eachhinge element in push-fit engagement with a support element.
 9. Thedisplay device according to claim 1, wherein the viewing section haswalls to define a rectangular area to retain an article.
 10. The displaydevice according to claim 9, wherein the viewing section includeschannel elements on opposing walls, opposing channel elementscooperating to retain an elongate spacer, inclusion of a spacer reducingthe area in which the article is retained.
 11. The display deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein a spacer includes ridges along one sideto reduce the mass of a spacer required to produce a given reduction inarea, the ridges holding the spacer in spaced relationship to a wall andpreventing bowing of a spacer.
 12. The display device according to claim1, wherein a hinge element includes a pivot mount engageable with amounting element on the backpiece, which engagement enables the hingeand the frontispiece to pivot relative to the backpiece.
 13. The displaydevice according to claim 12, wherein a stop element prevents pivotingbeyond a pre-set angle.
 14. The display device according to claim 12,wherein a pivot mount has a cylindrical outer surface.
 15. The displaydevice according to claim 12, wherein the mounting element comprises acylindrical surface, of complimentary curvature to that of the pivotmount.
 16. The display device according to claim 1, wherein thebackpiece comprises one or more resilient supports having anarticle-engaging surface, to engage a surface of an article beingdisplayed.
 17. The display device according to claim 16, wherein thearticle-engaging surface is covered with a material or sponge material.18. The display device according to claim 17, wherein a resilientsupport comprises an arm, fixed at one end to the backpiece andsupporting on the free end of the arm, in spaced arrangement to thebackpiece, a head, the head engaging an article being displayed.
 19. Thedisplay device according to claim 1, wherein the catch engages thebackpiece by a push-fit arrangement to enable the catch to be movedbetween different positions on the backpiece.